9 Fin-tastic Shark Books for Kids

Little Shark: Finger Puppet Book, by ImageBooks
Prepare for a terrifyingly cute baby attack when you read this finger-puppet book to your tiniest shark lovers. Wee ones can swim along with the little shark finger puppet—a plush character permanently attached to the book and visible on every page. Kids will love the colorful pictures and simple rhymes accompanying this little shark and his soft, not-so-scary pearly whites. (Ages 0–3)

I’m a Shark, by Bob Shea
Lots of people are afraid of sharks, but what are sharks afraid of? The dark? A bear? A squid? Ha! No way! But there is one tiny thing sharks are afraid of in this silly picture book by Bob Shea. A creepy, crawly spider! Our titular shark shows kids that everyone is afraid of something, and that’s A-OK in our book. It just might also give kids a boost of confidence to know that such a fearsome beast could be frightened by something so small. (Ages 3–5)

Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever or Snack Time?, by Tammi Sauer and Michael Slack
Nugget is a little minnow with a big best buddy in this funny tale of unlikely friendship. Nugget doesn’t know he’s supposed to be afraid of sharks—including his pal, Fang—until the first day of school: “Sharks are toothy. Sharks are scary. Sharks and minnows can’t be friends.” But Fang is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his longtime friend. And it’s going to take a lot of finagling to convince Nugget and his new friends that he’s a shark to be trusted. (Ages 4–7)

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating and Marta Alvarez Miguens
Kids interested in zoology will love this true story about Eugenie Clark, who chose to prove people wrong on two very important issues: 1) that sharks are scary and ugly creatures and 2) that women shouldn’t be scientists. In following her passion for learning about sharks, she managed to do both, teaching the world about these beautiful and majestic animals, earning several college degrees, and making countless shark-related discoveries in the process. (Ages 4–8)

Clark the Shark, by Bruce Hale and Guy Francis
Clark means well, but this rowdy shark likes to play rough. With his unbridled enthusiasm, however, he can easily forget his manners, alienate friends, and get in trouble with grown-ups. So when his teacher gives him some helpful advice—”Stay cool”—he takes it to heart and learns to contain his excitement in this rhyme-filled shark tale full of cute undersea characters sure to keep kids entertained. (Ages 4–8)

Sharks! (National Geographic Readers Series), by Anne Schreiber
This fascinating book is filled to the brim with shark facts sure to enthrall and educate even the biggest shark superfans eager to learn something new about their favorite animals. Part of the National Geographic Readers series, Sharks! also Includes a variety of full-color photos to really bring these creatures to life. Kids will also enjoy all the sea-themed jokes in this stellar volume. (Ages 5–7)

Hark! A Shark!: All About Sharks, by Bonnie Worth, Aristides Ruiz, and Joe Mathieu
Want your kiddos to learn about sharks? Well, the Cat in the Hat knows a lot about that in this installment of the popular Learning Library series. Young readers will meet a colorful cast of sharks—including the dwarf lantern, the great white, the goblin, and the whale shark, among others—and discover a slew of scientific shark facts from their favorite striped-hat-wearing feline. (Ages 5–8)

Shadow of the Shark (Magic Tree House Merlin Mission Series #25), by Mary Pope Osborne
Magic Tree House fans with a special interest in sharks, this one is for you! In it, Jack and Annie think they are heading off on a relaxing vacation in Mexico; however, the pair soon find themselves whisked away from a dream vacay into a nightmare, complete with a shark attack! Mary Pope Osborne weaves yet another wonderful and exciting book for chapter book readers. (Ages 7–10)

I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (I Survived Series #2), by Lauren Tarshis
Based on the real-life New Jersey shark attacks of 1916, this second book in the popular I Survived series—which offers fictionalized accounts of historical events—follows 10-year-old Chet Roscoe and his friends. The group plays a bunch of shark-related pranks on each other, so when Chet actually encounters the great white, his pals don’t believe him. But now that it’s swimming toward him in a creek, he could really use their help. Will he survive this harrowing, action-packed tale? (Ages 7–10)